Our Hen House: Vegan & Animal Rights Movement | Stories from the Frontlines of Animal Liberation

This week, Mariann dives headfirst into the murky waters of the UK’s “Spycops Scandal,” where undercover officers infiltrated animal rights groups with tactics ranging from the questionable to the downright duplicitous. Then, brace yourself for Mariann’s special brand of eye-rolling commentary on the self-congratulatory bubble of animal agriculture, where farming isn’t just a job but apparently a divine calling passed down through generations of people who think they invented hard work. Because nothing says “perspective” quite like turning sentient beings into commodities while patting yourself on the back. This episode explores: The UK’s “Spycops Scandal” where police officers infiltrated animal rights groups, including one who fabricated a gun plot against activists How one undercover officer ended up genuinely falling for and marrying the animal rights activist she was investigating The problematic culture of animal agriculture that indoctrinates children from birth and portrays farming as a superior way of life The Non-Human Rights Project’s ongoing legal battle to have elephants recognized as legal persons, facing opposition from hunting and “conservation” interests How animal rights arguments often face resistance because acknowledging the rights of one animal logically extends to all animals We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this intellectually stimulating episode of the Animal Law Podcast, Mariann Sullivan speaks with constitutional law expert Michael Dorf about his innovative course “Animals and the Constitution.” Dorf shares how fundamental legal principles intersect with animal protection, revealing both the limitations and opportunities within our constitutional framework for advancing animal rights. This episode explores: Constitutional standing for animals: How courts determine whether animals can have legal standing and the challenges of representing beings who cannot speak for themselves Religious freedom vs. animal protection: Analysis of Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah and the complex balance between First Amendment rights and preventing animal cruelty Free speech implications for animal advocacy: Examination of United States v. Stevens and the constitutional challenges of regulating depictions of animal cruelty Comparative constitutional approaches: How other countries are incorporating rights of nature and animal protections into their constitutional frameworks Strategic advocacy dilemmas: The difficult balance between arguing for specific animals’ rights while avoiding implications that might alarm courts ABOUT OUR GUEST Michael C. Dorf is the Robert S. Stevens Professor of Law at Cornell Law School, where he teaches constitutional law, federal courts, and related subjects. He has authored or co-authored six books (including, with Sherry Colb, Beating Hearts: Abortion and Animal Rights) and over one hundred scholarly articles and essays for law journals and peer-reviewed science and social science journals. His most recent work of scholarship (co-authored with Sherry Colb) is “If We Didn’t Eat Them, They Wouldn’t Exist”: The Nonidentity Problem’s Implications for Animals (Including Humans), in The American Journal of Law and Equality. He also frequently writes for the general public. In addition to occasional contributions to The New York Times, USA Today, CNN.com, The Los Angeles Times, and other wide-circulation publications, Professor Dorf has been writing a bi-weekly column since 2000 and publishes a popular blog, Dorf on Law. Dorf received his undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard. He served as a law clerk for Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and then for Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court. He maintains an active pro bono practice mostly consisting of writing Supreme Court briefs. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. ********** You can listen to the Animal Law Podcast directly on our website (at the top of this page) or you can listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher. Also, if you like what you hear, please rate it on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to leave us a friendly comment! Of course, we would be thrilled if you would consider making a donation or becoming a member of our flock (especially if you’re a regular listener). Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be TRIPLED! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Don’t forget to also listen to the award-winning,  weekly signature OHH podcast — now in its fifteenth glorious year!

This Thanksgiving episode of The Hen Report serves up a hearty helping of gratitude alongside meaningful animal advocacy discussions. Jasmin and Mariann reflect on the growth of Our Hen House, which now reaches thousands of listeners weekly through multiple podcast formats. The episode features producer Vicki Beechler’s thoughtful review of Kendra Coulter’s new novel “The Tortoise’s Tale,” a beautifully crafted story told from a captive tortoise’s perspective that subtly weaves animal rights themes into a century-spanning narrative. Between moments of holiday reflection, the hosts share exciting developments in the alternative protein space and celebrate recent legal victories for animal activists in the UK. This episode explores: How to navigate the emotional challenges of Thanksgiving as animal advocates while finding community and gratitude Producer Vicki Beechler’s review of “The Tortoise’s Tale” by Kendra Coulter, a new Simon & Schuster novel that skillfully portrays an animal’s perspective on captivity Recent breakthroughs in alternative protein technology, including cost parity achievements for cultivated chicken and fermented egg proteins Legal victories for Animal Rising activists in the UK, where juries refused to convict protestors who disrupted horse racing events The importance of finding authentic joy in animal advocacy while balancing the heaviness of awareness with moments of hope RESOURCES BREAKING: CPS drops Grand National Crown Court case after juries refused to convict horse protectors. Starting in December, 20 beagle rescuers face trial accused of burglary from MBR Acres. The EVERY Co raises $55m to scale egg proteins via fermentation, crosses line ‘from promise to proof’ SuperMeat secures US$3.5 million to accelerate European launch after hitting cost parity on cultivated chicken This Vegan Microbial Protein Made From Air And Electricity Could Go To Space Tis the season to be thankful…for wild turkeys Name That Meat, a poem on Andrea Gibson’s Tumblr The Tortoise’s Tale on Bookshop.org Defending Animals with Kendra Coulter We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

This Thanksgiving, Our Hen House proudly presents our beloved holiday tradition: “Sanctuary: A Radio Play.” First performed in 2017  at New York City’s Symphony Space during the Culture & Animals Foundation’s Compassion Arts Festival, this darkly comedic tale continues to resonate with anyone who has navigated vegan ethics around holiday dinner tables. This episode explores: A retired couple’s relationship tested when one unexpectedly embraces veganism The hilarious and tense dynamics of planning a turkey-free Thanksgiving How compassionate choices can disrupt long-held traditions and relationships The challenges and triumphs of staying true to your values during the holidays In this delightful performance, we follow Richard (John Frusciante) and Lisa (Mariann Sullivan), whose peaceful retirement in small-town Oregon is upended when Lisa goes vegan and befriends local animal activist Meg (Jasmin Singer). Desperate to maintain tradition, Richard enlists his friend Charley (Michael Harren), the town’s exterminator, creating a perfect storm of holiday chaos that will have you laughing while contemplating the deeper meaning of compassionate celebrations. (Featuring Emmy-winning sound design by Eric Milano.) We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this irreverent episode of Rising Anxieties, Mariann Sullivan unpacks the latest worries keeping animal agriculture executives up at night—from avian influenza contingency plans to the surprising alliance between premium meat brands and animal advocates. With her trademark wit, Mariann dissects the absurdity of turkey “pardoning” ceremonies, exposes the dairy industry’s push to flood schools with whole milk (while conveniently excluding it from saturated fat calculations), and reveals disturbing labor conditions at poultry plants. The episode wraps with an unexpectedly optimistic note on the global rise of meat alternatives, proving that even in the meat industry’s own publications, the writing on the wall is becoming impossible to ignore. This episode explores: How the dairy industry is scrambling to create contingency plans for disease outbreaks while prioritizing milk supply over animal welfare Why some “responsible” meat companies are joining forces with animal advocates to support California’s Proposition 12 standards The bipartisan push to reintroduce whole milk in schools with a surprising silver lining for plant-based options Shocking labor violations in poultry processing, including children as young as 13 working overnight cleaning shifts The growing global acceptance of meat alternatives, with countries outside the US showing double-digit growth in plant-based eating We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this thought-provoking episode, Jasmin and Mariann sit down with Seth Green from Stanford’s Humane and Sustainable Food Lab and Benny Smith from Allied Scholars for Animal Protection to tackle the million-dollar question: how do we actually get people to stop eating animals? The conversation dives into Seth’s fascinating meta-analysis of intervention studies and sparks a passionate debate about what really works in animal advocacy. While the research suggests most current approaches show minimal effectiveness, Benny makes a compelling case for moral persuasion and worldview change as essential components of long-term movement building. Meta-analysis reveals most animal advocacy interventions produce only small reductions in meat consumption (typically just a few percentage points) Showing animal abuse footage such as that found in “Dominion” appears more effective than other persuasion methods, reducing consumption by approximately 13.5% Debate centers on whether to focus on incremental behavior change or transformative worldview shifts that create more vegans and activists Historical examples from religious movements suggest successful moral transformations require long-term community building rather than quick fixes Speakers explore whether choice architecture, health messaging, or emerging technologies like Ozempic might offer alternative paths to reducing animal consumption ABOUT OUR GUESTS Seth Ariel Green is a research scientist at the Humane and Sustainable Food Lab at Stanford, a research group dedicated to accelerating the end of factory farming. He lives in Brooklyn NY and blogs at https://regressiontothemeat.substack.com/. Benny Smith is the Programs Manager at Allied Scholars for Animal Protection, where he was the first full-time hire after graduating from Brown University in 2023. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann reflect on the peculiar psychology behind our collective blind spots to animal suffering, inspired by a thought-provoking Carl Sagan quote about the painful process of acknowledging when we’ve been “bamboozled.” From unexpected wildlife encounters to groundbreaking animal testing reforms, the duo navigates the latest developments in animal rights with their signature blend of wit and wisdom, celebrating progress while confronting the uncomfortable truths about our relationship with animals. This episode explores: How Carl Sagan’s insights about “the bamboozle” perfectly explain why otherwise compassionate people continue consuming animal products despite knowing the suffering involved Exciting progress in the UK’s ambitious £75 million plan to completely phase out animal testing, signaling a major shift in scientific practices The effectiveness of wildlife overpasses in Utah, which have reduced animal-vehicle collisions by up to 77% and demonstrate how animals intelligently adapt to human infrastructure Jeff Goldblum’s recent decision to stop eating meat after working on “Wicked,” highlighting the film’s often-overlooked animal rights themes RESOURCES Most Americans Think Schools Should Offer Plant-Based Meals And Milk Wildlife Overpass in Utah Drastically Lowers Collisions with Nonhuman Animals UK Sets Deadline to Phase Out Animal Testing Major Animal Welfare Charities Disassociate from Controversial US “Humane” Meat Label Scheme ‘It’s changed me’: Jeff Goldblum says he has stopped eating meat after working on Wicked The Runaway Monkeys Upending the Animal-Rights Movement Proposal to ban Central Park horse carriages voted down by key NYC council committee Support Jonina’s Cancer Treatment Journey We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this awkwardly revealing Thanksgiving episode, Mariann dives into the meat industry’s internal civil war as beef enthusiasts attempt a coup against Big Turkey just in time for the holidays. We witness the spectacle of industry professionals clutching their pearls when faced with market competition while simultaneously patting themselves on the back for their “noble sacrifice” of industrial animal slaughter. Meanwhile, dairy producers reluctantly acknowledge that maybe, just possibly, cows might prefer stable social groups and not having their babies taken away – who knew animal welfare might actually matter? Turkey vs. Beef Showdown: Meat industry infighting erupts as beef advocate Gregory Bloom suggests replacing Thanksgiving turkey, triggering defensive backlash from turkey farmers. Trump’s Beef Backlash: Cattle ranchers turn on Trump over Argentine beef imports and meatpacker investigations, exposing hypocrisy in their free market rhetoric. Dairy’s Welfare Admission: Journal of Dairy Science acknowledges cows need stable social groups and natural behaviors, signaling growing consumer pressure on animal welfare issues. Support Our Hen House: Triple your impact with matched donations at ourhenhouse.org/support during year-end fundraising campaign. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

Filmmakers Annie Laurie Medonis and Tracy Nichole Cring discuss their documentary A Culinary Uprising, which chronicles Bloodroot, one of the last remaining feminist restaurants in America. Founded in the 1970s, this Connecticut establishment has spent nearly five decades creating a unique space where veganism, feminism, and community intersect through intentional food practices and inclusive principles. Sadly, the restaurant will be closing this December. This episode explores: How Bloodroot evolved from vegetarian to vegan as part of the founders’ feminist philosophy The remarkable 48-year partnership between founders Selma and Noel that sustained the restaurant How immigrant women staff members influenced the restaurant’s diverse culinary offerings The intentional language and community-building practices that define the Bloodroot experience The filmmakers’ personal transformations while documenting this intergenerational feminist wisdom ABOUT OUR GUESTS Annie Laurie Medonis is an award-winning filmmaker. Since beginning her documentary, A Culinary Uprising: The Story of Bloodroot, about the iconic feminist restaurant Bloodroot, Annie Laurie’s understanding of feminism and connection has profoundly deepened. Inspired by Bloodroot’s legacy of empowerment, she founded Women Artists in Action, a monthly collective dedicated to fostering vibrant events for female artists to collaborate, inspire, and support one another. Tracy Nichole Cring is an editor of more than forty films. She secured the grand prize at the 1995 LA Film Festival for a captivating short film ingeniously crafted using old TV studio equipment. Embarking on her career as a cinematographer and editor, Tracy joined forces with the Extraordinary Film Project. This ambitious initiative aimed to produce 12 feature films within a year; ultimately, it took 20 months, but she made films in Michigan, Arizona, and California during that time. Tracy’s work has gained widespread recognition, earning the national attention of NBC Nightly News, PBS, and hundreds of film festivals. Tracy now devotes herself to mentoring women in film and editing documentaries that amplify the voices of women and shed light on crucial social justice issues. We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.

In this delightful episode of The Hen Report, Jasmin and Mariann welcome back vegan comedian Myq Kaplan for a conversation that seamlessly weaves humor with compassion. Myq, whose comedy special “Rini” premieres on YouTube November 19th, shares profound insights on how comedy can help bridge the cognitive dissonance many experience around animal consumption. With his characteristic thoughtfulness and quick wit, Myq explores the psychology behind food choices, the power of default options, and how humor can be a gateway to deeper truths about our relationship with animals. This episode explores: How language and cognitive dissonance shape our relationships with animals we eat versus those we cherish The psychological phenomenon of “benign violation” in comedy and how it relates to challenging conversations about veganism Why “opt-in” versus “opt-out” systems dramatically influence behavior, and how this applies to plant-based food choices Myq’s Buddhist-inspired perspective on decreasing suffering and increasing joy for all sentient beings The evolution of Myq’s vegan journey and how his partnership with fellow vegan Rini influences his latest comedy special Myq Kaplan’s new one-hour standup special premieres on YouTube on November 19th at 8:00 PM ET, with the album releasing December 12th. His previous credits include appearances on The Tonight Show, Conan, The Late Show with David Letterman, and his album “Vegan Mind Meld” was one of iTunes’ top comedy albums of the year. RESOURCES “Rini” available starting November 19 at 8pm eastern Myq Kaplan’s newsletter Myq’s website Myq’s podcast Heart Brain Art Train We are thrilled to expand the accessibility of our podcast by offering written transcripts of the interviews! Click here to read this episode's interview. _____________________________________________ Thank you for listening to the Our Hen House podcast! If you enjoy our podcasts, believe in our mission to effectively mainstream the movement to end the exploitation of animals, find community and solace in our shows and resources, and would like to show your support for vegan indie media, please make a donation today. Between now and December 31, every donation up to $20,000 will be tripled! Contributions of any amount will go towards our fundraising goal and are hugely appreciated. Our Hen House is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so it’s tax-deductible. Thank you for helping us create quality content! Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or your favorite podcatcher, and don’t forget to leave a 5-star review! Check out Our Hen House’s other podcasts: The Animal Law Podcast, The Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan Podcast, and the Antiracism in Animal Advocacy Audio Series. Follow us on social media! You can find Our Hen House on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Bluesky. The Our Hen House theme song is written and performed by Michael Harren.